Cable operated slider for vehicle seats

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for operation of a vehicle seat slider are disclosed. A disclosed apparatus includes a cable assembly having a first end and a second end. The first end of the cable assembly is configured to be operatively coupled to a slider mechanism of a vehicle seat. A release member is operatively coupled to the second end of the cable assembly so that the slider mechanism is urged toward a locked condition in the absence of a force being applied to the release member by a person

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/070,156, filed Mar. 1, 2005, and incorporated herein by reference inits entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates generally to vehicle seats and, morespecifically, to a cable operated vehicle seat slider.

BACKGROUND

Many vehicle seats such as those used in automobiles, boats, industrialor commercial vehicles, etc. include a seat slider or slider mechanismthat enables a seated vehicle occupant to adjust their seat to a desiredposition along a generally fore/aft axis or direction. Use of the slidermechanism typically occurs prior to vehicle operation to enable, forexample, an operator of the vehicle (e.g., a driver) to adjust theposition their seat for ease of use of vehicle controls, comfort,safety, etc.

Typically, vehicle seat slider mechanisms are operated via a lever,knob, or other similar mechanical member that is directly or rigidlycoupled to the slider mechanism. Additionally, the lever, knob, or othermember for operating the seat slider mechanism is typically located inclose proximity to the seat and its slider mechanism so that a seatedvehicle occupant can easily operate the slider mechanism. For example,in the case of automobiles and boats, a lever or knob for operating(e.g., locking/unlocking) the seat slider mechanism is often locatednear the front lower portion of the seat bottom behind the calves of aseated person.

The above-noted direct and proximate relationship between the slidermechanism controls (e.g., levers, knobs, etc.) results in a relativelylow overall seat cost and provides a relatively high degree of occupantsafety. In particular, such known mechanical slider controls userelatively few parts that are unlikely to bind, seize, or otherwiseimpede the return of the slider mechanism to a locked conditionfollowing an adjustment by the occupant. Leaving a seat in an unlockedcondition is unsafe for operation of the vehicle and could, for example,significantly increase the likelihood of injury to an occupant during anaccident (e.g., a collision).

Unfortunately, in the case of boats, for example, a wide range of seatdesigns and seating layouts typically requires boat manufacturers toinventory a wide range of seat slider mechanisms and related operatingor control members such as knobs, levers, etc. Further, the wide rangeof seat designs and layouts results in a wide range of slider controlslocations, which can result in controls that may be significantly lessintuitive for vehicle occupants to operate.

Some automobiles and boats have employed electrically operated seatslider mechanisms. Such electrically operated slider mechanisms arecontrolled via electric switches that can be mounted virtually anywherewithin reach of the seat occupant, including on the seat, a dashboard, acounsel, etc. Although such electrically operated slider mechanismsenable more flexible (e.g., remote or not on the seat) location of seatslider controls, such electric controls require relatively expensive andheavy electric motors and are prone to failure, particularly in marineapplications, which tend to involve relatively corrosive environments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts an example vehicle seat assembly including the exampleseat slider mechanism described herein.

FIG. 2 is a more detailed exploded assembly view of the example seatslider mechanism of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the example seat slider mechanism ofFIGS. 1 and 2 that has been cut away to better illustrate its operation.

FIG. 4 is a detailed cross-sectional view of the example seat slidermechanism of FIGS. 1-3.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are plan views of the example seat slider mechanism ofFIGS. 1-4 that have been cut away to illustrate the manner in which thelocking lever engages with the locking lug or member.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate an example operating lever that may be usedwith the example seat slider mechanism described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In general, the example seat slider mechanism described herein enables asingle seat slider mechanism to be used for a wide variety of vehicleseat designs and layouts. More specifically, the example seat slidermechanism described herein is operated via a flexible coupling such as,for example, a cable assembly or the like so that an operating lever,control lever, knob, or other control member which a vehicle occupantuses to unlock/lock the slider to adjust the seat can be located in avariety of locations without requiring different slider mechanism andcontrol lever designs.

More specifically, the example seat slider mechanism described hereinprovides an unlocked condition in which a vehicle seat can be slidablyadjusted along, for example, a fore/aft axis or direction by an occupantof the seat or other person and a locked condition in which the vehicleseat is fixed (i.e., substantially immovable) along the fore/aft axis ordirection. The example seat slider mechanism described herein uses alocking lever or member that is springably biased (e.g., using a springor other resilient member) so that the seat slider is urged toward thelocked condition in the absence of a force being applied to theoperating lever, control knob, etc. by the seat occupant or otherperson. To unlock the seat slider mechanism, the seat occupant or otherperson applies a force to (e.g., pulls, pushes, etc.) the operatinglever, which conveys a force via the cable assembly or other flexiblecoupling to the locking lever to overcome the bias and urge the lockinglever away from the locked condition. When the seat occupant or otherperson ceases to apply force to the operating lever, the springablybiased locking member automatically returns to the locked condition.

In an example seat slider mechanism, the locking lever is biased using abias element such as a spring that is operatively coupled to the lockinglever. Alternatively or additionally, a bias element or spring can beoperatively coupled to the operating lever to provide a force via theflexible coupling or cable assembly that urges the locking lever towardthe locked condition. In the case where multiple bias elements orsprings are used, an added measure of safety is provided because thefailure of one bias element or spring will not inhibit or prevent thelocking lever and, thus, the seat slider mechanism from returning to thelocked condition.

FIG. 1 depicts an example vehicle seat assembly 100 including theexample seat slider mechanism 102 described herein. As shown in FIG. 1,a vehicle seat 104 is coupled or mounted to the example seat slidermechanism 102 via a seat mount 106. The seat mount 106 is coupled to amounting base 108 which, in turn, may be coupled or fixed to a floorsurface of a vehicle (not shown). The vehicle seat assembly 100 may beconfigured for use in any desired type of vehicle including, forexample, a boat, a car, a recreational vehicle, heavy equipment, etc.Additionally, the vehicle seat 104 is configured (e.g., sized, shaped,utilizes materials, etc.) to suit the particular vehicle in which theexample vehicle seat assembly 100 is to be mounted. As described ingreater detail below, the example vehicle seat assembly 100 alsoincludes an operating or release lever or member 110 that is operativelycoupled to the seat slider mechanism 102 via a flexible coupling 112such as, for example, a cable assembly. The operating lever or member110 can be manually actuated by an occupant of the vehicle seat 104 toenable the vehicle seat 104 to freely slide or move in a generallyfore/aft direction or axis with respect to the vehicle in which thevehicle seat assembly 100 is mounted. More specifically, the exampleseat slider mechanism 102 is configured to provide a locked condition inwhich the vehicle seat 104 is substantially prevented from sliding ormoving in a fore/aft direction and an unlocked condition in which theposition of the vehicle seat 104 can be slidably adjusted within thevehicle. The slider mechanism 102 and/or the operating lever 110 includeresilient or springably biased member(s) to bias the slider mechanism102 in a locked condition. Thus, actuation of (e.g., manual applicationof a force to) the operating lever or member 110 by a person worksagainst the bias to cause the example seat slider mechanism 102 tounlock, thereby enabling the vehicle seat 104 to slidably move. Then,when the operating lever 110 is released by the person (i.e., the personceases to apply force to the operating lever 110), the resilient orspringably biased members cause the example seat slider mechanism 102 toautomatically return to the locked condition.

The flexible coupling 112 enables the operating lever or member 110 tobe mounted in virtually any location within the vehicle, including onthe vehicle seat assembly 100 or another surface within the vehicle thatis remote from the vehicle seat assembly 100. Thus, the location of theoperating lever 110 within the vehicle can be easily varied toaccommodate a particular vehicle and/or vehicle seat configuration, apreference of the vehicle owner, etc. In this manner, a singleconfiguration of the example seat slider mechanism 102 can be used witha wide variety of vehicle seats, vehicle seat arrangements, vehicleconfigurations, etc.

FIG. 2 is a more detailed exploded assembly view of the example seatslider mechanism 102 of FIG. 1. The example seat slider mechanism 102includes a slider plate 202 to which a vehicle seat (e.g., the vehicleseat 104) can be mounted, a locking lever or member 204, slider guidesor guide members 206 and 208, and a locking lug or member 210 that isfixed to (e.g., integrally formed with) the seat mount 106 (FIG. 1). Theinwardly facing edges of the slider guides 206 and 208 may be slotted orotherwise configured to be fixed to edges 212 and 214 of the seat mount106. The slider plate 202 includes channels 216 and 218 configured toslidably engage the slider guides 206 and 208. In one example, theslider guides 206 and 208 are made of a thermoplastic material thatprovides a relatively low friction outer surface to facilitate thesliding of slider plate 202 over the guides 206 and 208 when the seatslider mechanism 102 is in an unlocked condition. In this example, theslider guides 206 and 208 may be pressed onto, glued, riveted, screwed,bolted, or fixed in any other manner to the edges 212 and 214 of theseat mount 106.

In the example of FIG. 2, the locking lever or member 204 is relativelyelongate and includes a plurality of locking structures, raised portionsor teeth 220. A first end 222 of the locking lever 204 is pivotallycoupled to the slider plate 202 via a fastener 224. A second end 226 ofthe locking lever 204 is coupled to a return spring 228 to urge orspringably bias the locking lever 204 toward a locked condition. As moreclearly shown in FIG. 3, in the locked condition, one or more of theplurality of teeth or raised portions 220 engages with at least onerecess of the locking lug 210 to prevent slidable movement of the sliderplate 202 and, thus, any vehicle seat mounted thereto.

An end 230 of the flexible coupling 112 is configured to be coupled tothe second end 226 of the locking lever 204 so that actuation of theoperating lever or member 110 works against the spring 228 to move theteeth 220 of the locking lever 204 away from the locking lug 210,thereby causing the slider mechanism 102 to be in an unlocked conditionand enabling slidable movement of the slider plate 202 and any vehicleseat mounted thereto.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the example seat slider mechanism 102 ofFIGS. 1 and 2 that has been cut away to better illustrate its operation.In the example of FIG. 3, the teeth or raised portions 220 of thelocking lever 204 are engaged with the locking lug 210 to slidably lockthe slider plate 202 to the seat mount 106. As can also be seen in FIG.3, the first end 226 of the locking lever 204 includes tabs 302 and 304that are configured to receive the return spring 228 and the end 230 ofthe flexible coupling or cable assembly 112. The return spring 228 urgesthe locking lever 204 toward a locked condition in which one or more ofthe teeth or protrusions 220 of the locking lever 204 are engaged withthe locking lug or member 210. Actuation of the operating lever 110causes the end 230 of the flexible coupling or cable assembly 112 topivotally move the teeth or protrusions 220 of the locking lever 204away from engagement with the locking lug 210, thereby enabling slidablemovement of the plate 202 and any vehicle seat mounted thereto.

FIG. 4 is a detailed cross-sectional view of the example seat slidermechanism 102 of FIGS. 1-3, and FIGS. 5 and 6 are plan views of theexample seat slider mechanism 102 of FIGS. 1-4 that have been cut awayto illustrate the manner in which the locking lever 204 engages with thelocking lug or member 210.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate an example implementation of the operatinglever 110 that may be used with the example seat slider 102 mechanism(FIG. 1) described herein. The operating lever 110 includes a handle orlever 700 that is pivotally mounted to a housing or mounting member 702.While the example of FIGS. 7 and 8 depict the use of a handle or lever,any other suitable structure such as, for example, a rotatable orpullable knob, could be used instead. The mounting member 702 includesmounting holes 704 and 706 that may be used to fix the operating lever110 to a portion of a vehicle (e.g., a portion of a vehicle seat or anyother surface within the vehicle). In the example of FIGS. 7 and 8, theflexible coupling 112 is depicted as being a cable assembly having acable 708 at least partially covered by a jacket or sheath 710.

When the handle 700 is in the position shown in FIG. 7, the end 230 ofthe cable 708 is extended, thereby enabling the return spring 228 tobias the one or more of the teeth 220 of the locking lever 204 intoengagement with the locking lug 210, thereby locking the slider plate202 to the seat mount 106 (FIG. 1) to prevent slidable movement of theslider plate 202 relative to the seat mount 106. When the handle 700 isin the position shown in FIG. 8, the end 230 of the cable 708 isretracted toward the handle 700, thereby working against the returnspring 228 to move the locking lever 204 out of engagement with thelocking lug 210 to enable slidable movement of the slider plate 202 andany vehicle seat mounted thereto.

In addition to or as an alternative to the return spring 228 (FIG. 2),the operating lever 110 may include a torsion spring or other resilientmember 712 to bias the handle 700, the cable end 230 and, thus, thelocking lever 204 (FIG. 2) in the locked condition. In the case wherethe torsion spring or other resilient member 712 is included in additionto the return spring 228, the forces applied to the locking lever 204 bythe return spring 228 and the torsion spring 712 are additive. As aresult, an added measure of safety is provided in the event that one ofthe springs or resilient members 228 and 712 fails and/or in the eventthat movement of the cable 708 is impeded by frictional engagement withthe sheath 710 or the like.

Although certain apparatus have been described herein, the scope ofcoverage of this patent is not limited thereto. To the contrary, thispatent covers all apparatus fairly falling within the scope of theappended claims either literally or under the doctrine of equivalents.

1. An apparatus for operating a vehicle seat slider, comprising: a cableassembly having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end isconfigured to be operatively coupled to a slider mechanism of a vehicleseat; and a release member operatively coupled to the second end of thecable assembly so that the slider mechanism is urged toward a lockedcondition in the absence of a force being applied to the release memberby a person.
 2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising afirst bias member configured to exert a first force on the first end ofthe cable assembly and a second bias member configured to exert a secondforce in addition to the first force on the second end of the cableassembly to urge the slider mechanism toward the locked condition.
 3. Anapparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the first bias member isoperatively coupled to the slider mechanism.
 4. An apparatus as definedin claim 2, wherein the second bias member is operatively coupled to therelease member.
 5. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the firstand second bias members are springs.
 6. An apparatus as defined in claim1, wherein the slider mechanism includes a locking lever, and whereinthe first end of the cable assembly is operatively coupled to thelocking lever so that when a force is applied to the cable assembly viathe release member the locking lever is moved away from or toward thelocked condition.
 7. An apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein thelocking lever has a first end configured to form a pivot, a second endconfigured to be operatively coupled to the first end of the cableassembly, and a plurality of locking structures spaced along a length ofthe locking lever.
 8. An apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein thelocking lever is biased toward the locked condition.
 9. An apparatus asdefined in claim 8, further comprising a spring operatively coupled tothe locking lever to bias the locking lever toward the locked condition.10. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the slider mechanismincludes a locking lever having a protrusion configured to engage alocking member associated with a seat mount.
 11. An apparatus as definedin claim 10, wherein the locking lever includes a plurality ofprotrusions configured to engage the locking member.
 12. An apparatus asdefined in claim 10, wherein the locking member includes at least onerecess configured to receive the protrusion.
 13. An apparatus as definedin claim 10, wherein the locking member is integrally formed with theseat mount.
 14. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the cableassembly includes a cable and a sheath surrounding at least a portion ofa length of the cable.
 15. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, whereinthe release member is one of a handle, a lever, or a knob configured tobe actuated by a person.
 16. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, whereinthe release member is configured to be mounted to a surface within thevehicle.
 17. An apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein the surface isnot a surface of the vehicle seat.
 18. A slider assembly comprising: a.a seat mount; b. at least one slider guide mounted to the seat mount; c.a locking lug mounted to the seat mount and including at least onerecess; d. a slider plate to which a vehicle seat can be mounted, theslider plate including at least one channel for slidably engaging the atleast one slider guide such that the slider plate is slidable between afirst position and a second position relative to the seat mount; e. alocking lever pivotally coupled to the slider plate and including atleast one locking structure, wherein the locking lever is biased towarda locked position wherein the at least one locking structure engages theat least one recess of the locking lug to prevent the slider plate frommoving relative to the seat mount; f. a cable having a first endoperatively coupled directly to the locking lever; g. a control memberoperatively coupled to a second end of the cable, wherein the controlmember is configured to apply a force to the cable to cause the lockinglever to pivot toward an unlocked position wherein the at least onelocking structure disengages the at least one recess of the locking lugto allow the slider plate to move relative to the seat mount; h. a firstbias member configured to exert a first force on the first end of thecable; and i. a second bias member configured to exert a second force inaddition to the first force on the second end of the cable.
 19. A sliderassembly as defined in claim 18, wherein a plane defined by each of theat least one slider guide, the locking lug, the slider plate, and thelocking lever is substantially parallel to a plane defined by the seatmount.
 20. A slider assembly as defined in claim 18, wherein the lockinglever pivots in a plane substantially parallel to a plane defined by theslider plate.